Dr. Michel Hamala Sidibé was the second Executive Director of UNAIDS, serving from January 2009 until May 2019. He held the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. For almost 40 years, Dr. Sidibé has waged a relentless battle in defense of the world’s most vulnerable populations, crusading for human rights, dignity, and the belief that every voice must be heard. Through his globally acclaimed leadership at UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the Government of Mali, Dr. Sidibé is recognized as an innovative advocate for social justice, healthy communities, and sustainable development. In May 2019, he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Affairs in Mali, where he developed the Mali Action Plan, modeled on the World Health Organization’s framework. In 2020, he was appointed by the African Union to lead the global advocacy to create the African Medicines Agency (AMA). In 2021 he was appointment a board member of The Global Commission on Drug Policy chaired by Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Sir Richard Branson.
